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New photochemical diode artificial photosynthesis system doubles efficiency of solar water splitting

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Researchers in Canada have demonstrated a new photochemical diode artificial photosynthesis system that can enable efficient, unassisted overall pure water splitting without using any sacrificial reagent. overall water splitting reaction. These free charges split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. … in neutral (pH?~?7.0)

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China team develops efficient multifunctional catalyst for conversion of CO2 to gasoline-range hydrocarbons

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This catalyst exhibited 78% selectivity to C 5 -C 11 as well as low (4%) CH 4 at a CO 2 conversion of 22% under industrial relevant conditions. Moreover, the multifunctional catalyst exhibited a remarkable stability for 1,000 h on stream, showing potential to be a promising industrial catalyst for CO 2 conversion to liquid fuels.

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New catalysts enable photocatalytic version of water gas shift reaction for H2 production

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Politécnica de Valencia (Spain) have found that noble metal nanoparticles supported on titanium dioxide or cerium dioxide can catalyze the industrially important water gas shift (WGS) reaction for hydrogen production at ambient temperatures using visible light irradiation. Researchers at the Univ. —Sastre et al. Energy Environ.

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Sandia-led team demonstrates two efficient hybrid biochemical routes for lignin conversion to value-added chemicals

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A Sandia National Laboratories-led team has demonstrated two new routes to lignin conversion that combine the advantages of earlier methods while minimizing their drawbacks. Conversely, harsh chemicals can deconstruct lignin in hours or even minutes. Together, Singh reports, these chemicals have a combined market value of $255.7

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Ionic Liquids for Conversion of Biomass to Sugars or HMF Without Additional Catalysts

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The results, they say, are broadly relevant to reactions involving the use of IL-H 2 O mixtures (as solvents, reactants, or catalysts), including, but not limited to, organic catalysis, electrochemistry, and biomass processing or conversion. A paper describing the work was published 10 March in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels.

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ORNL team discovers mechanism behind direct ethanol-to-hydrocarbon conversion; implications for energy efficiency and cost of upgrading

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Uncovering the mechanism behind the reaction helps support the potential economic viability of ORNL’s own direct biofuel-to-hydrocarbon conversion approach. This has renewed interest in the conversion of ethanol to hydrocarbon blend-stock and other industrial chemicals. The mechanism of ethanol conversion is still being debated. …

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New Efficient Iron Catalyst for Water Oxidation

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Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new catalyst—iron-centered tetraamido macrocyclic ligand (Fe-TAML)—that efficiently catalyzes water oxidation. Water oxidation is the second of two requisite half-reactions in the photolysis of water, the other being the reduction of protons to dihydrogen. At pH 0.7,

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